Careful driving does NOT pay off...

[Tigra00]

...Because there is always an idiot out there who doesn't know what he is doing. And somehow, someway, that idiot will find, hit, and total your car when you were just trying to get a cat-box for your kitten.

 

 

 

Case in point: My night.

 

 

 

I went to go get a cat-box for my kitten, and on the way over to visit a friend afterwards, a mere block or two from his house, I was T-boned by some old man who had ZERO concern for my health after he did so, apparently.

 

 

 

I was driving along - very carefully as I always do so as not to ruin my car or my health - and obeying all the laws of the road. I came to an intersection with no stop signs, something the reporting officer noted as being "a load of s**t" in his own words. I was going 20 MPH, as was the posted speed limit in the neighborhood I was in. I kept going to cross the intersection, and right as I was about 3/4 the way accross, BAM, I get T-boned by some bald, graying old man in a Lexus with his son. The passenger side of my car? Desimated at a mere 20 MPH. 25 maximum, if he was going the speed limit, which I assume he was...He's old afterall. My uncle was in the passenger seat and got tossed about a little and complained about pain in his side, but said it was nothing really. I hit my knee and hip on the door panel and there is a large lump on my knee, which is rather painless, and my hip no longer really hurts. We were both wearing seat belts. I told the reporting officer, when he asked if I was injured, that my hip and knee hurt and that I had a bump on my knee, but he wrote in his report that there were no injuries because I said I didn't need to go to the hospital...Basically, if I was turned out to be badly injured, I couldn't do anything about it because he wrote nothing was wrong with me. Good job, officer. But anyways, back to the story...

 

 

 

Right before impact, my uncle said "Whoa dude s**t!" and then we were hit from the side. I immediately knew what happened and was startled by it, but I wasn't really scared. I've been in an accident before (with myself, lol yay for ice and bald tires, going into ditches ftl) so I knew what was going on and immediately asked my uncle if he was okay and I got out of my car prepared to be very angry at some college kid who was not watching where he was going...I got out and limped a bit noticing my hip was feeling some pain, enough to make it limp-worthy, I guess, and that my knee also hurt a bit. After noticing it was an old man, I wasn't mad anymore because I figured he was just not watching where he was going, but at least it wasn't a college kid fiddling with his Ipod or something.

 

 

 

I walked over and asked if he was okay...Him and his son were inspecting their car. He kind of nodded his head and the kept inspecting it seeing what damage had been done...It should be noted that they were out of their car and checking it out before I was even out of my car, and I got out almost immediately, so obviously they were not hurt. He also walked his son home after a few minutes and came back. I was a bit angry that the man seemed totally unconcerned about my safety, but didn't get mouthy with him or anything. I asked him a second time if he was okay just to make sure he heard me and he looked at me kind of wide-eyed and said "Yea, yea, we're okay." again. He never once asked me if I was okay, which after-the-fact, has actually angered me kind of, because after all, he did hit me, not the other-way around. The guy seemed WAY concerned about his car and not concerned with me, and definately not my car, in the slightest.

 

 

 

A guy came out of his house (apparently he heard the crash) because my car was forced up on to his lawn by the impact (from the right-side of the street all the way across and into his yard, very close to his garage) and actually complained about his lawn having tread marks on it. I couldn't believe that someone could actually be that heartless, but thus is our world. I said something like "Oh man, all those parts that got damaged are BRAND new. I just bought them." and he said "Your parts? What about my lawn!" I didn't even say anything to him because I thought he had to be kidding. Noone could be that arrogant, you would think. My father is a lawn-fanatic and even he said it was nothing. I immediately called 911 because the man who hit me said "Yea, you better call 911 because I don't have a phone." The man ran over to the street signs when I asked what streets we were on and he said Ledley and Chelsey. They said they would send out officers immediately and they arrived 5 to 10 minutes later.

 

 

 

The officer questioned the guy...I had no idea what he said...I wasn't over by them because if the guy DID say it was my fault, I would have been angry because I am 100% confident that I did nothing wrong. Afterall, the front of his car smashed into the side of mine, that would mean my car was already in the intersection as he was going out of it. I don't want to totally blame the guy because it sounds mean to point fingers, but yea, it was obviously he who was at fault. Hopefully he realized that and won't want to challenge it in court because I honestly don't want to go through that all, win or lose. By the way the guy acted, he seemed to recognize his responsibility...Except for the fact that he never asked me how I was, but his body language and facial expressions showed it. He also never apologized, but either did I. If I was at fault, I would have ran out of my car and right up to his saying "Sorry, sorry, sorry!" a million times because I have always admitted my faults. If I T-boned him, for example, I would have seen that as my fault. The officer that was there said that technically it was nobodies fault because there were no signs to indicate right-of-way, stopping, yielding, etc.

 

 

 

The officer asked us about injuries and the like and I told him about my leg and all that. The other guy said he was fine. My uncle also said that his side was in pain, by that he would be okay. As of right now, we are both in a lot more pain than when we left, and tomorrow will probably be much worse. My back is aching, my neck hurt for a little while, but I think I rubbed that out, it doesn't hurt anymore...My knee hurts more and it's turning purple and bruised. Not sure about my uncle exactly, but I just asked him several minutes ago and he said his side hurt pretty bad, but he doesn't want to go to the hospital or anything because they'd just tell him to take it easy...I feel the same way. Don't need a doctor for that information!

 

 

 

The tow truck came and loaded up my car and his, second and first, respectively. My car wouldn't run...I believe the older man tried to drive his up onto the ramp, but I don't think it would run either and they had to pull it up. His airbags were deployed and everything, so his car is totalled for sure. My car's power was knocked out, being it the starter cables or something, but it wouldn't start,nothing worked. Front axel looked broken, none of the doors but mine (drivers side, front) would open. Not sure why the driver's side back wouldn't open (wasn't hit), but it wouldn't. Headlights were popped out...It wouldn't run, to say the least. My car also looked totalled. My car was probably worth two the three-thousand dollars, but mine also had $2,000 in work recently done (transmission, etc.) and so yea, mine is totalled aswell. I no longer have a vehicle and won't for a good-while. We don't have the money...So I have no way to work or anything. I had liability insurance, so it will pay for his car, but won't give me a dime. He had full-coverage which will pay for his, but I highly doubt mine, even though it was his fault. If I had to take him to court to pay for it, I could do it and win, but it probably wouldn't end up being worth it.

 

 

 

What did I get out of this? A soon-to-be higher insurance rate and a busted vehicle. What did the old man get? A brand new car, and higher, but less higher than mine, insurance rates...maybe. He's older, they probably won't even care about that, but I'm 19, so they'll freak out and think I'm responsible before even knowing any facts.

 

 

 

So, I guess being good and driving carefully doesn't pay off. In the end, I'll still get screwed by some old fart in a Lexus that wasn't watching the road.

 

 

 

*Sigh*.

[Tigra00]

The reason this post is so long is because I'm telling the story, but also using this text for my case-report. Well, snippets of it. I'll leave out the leet-speak and the like. :P So yea, in case you were wondering about the length. ;)

[runesmithie]

(Going to read later... but for now)

 

 

 

Defensive driving :P

[deloriagod]

That sucks.. If I hit someone I'd be more concerned about them than the vehicles. Vehicles can be replaced, but you can't replace someone's life. The guy that hit you should have to pay for your vehicle. You said the guy had full coverage, so are they going to pay for your vehicle? I mean he hit you. I don't think your insurance should pay for his car seeing as how the accident was his fault.. Hope you and your uncle feel better! :

 

I've only got liability insurance on my car until the spring.. Kind of makes me afraid to take it out of the garage :anxious:

[Tigra00]

That sucks.. If I hit someone I'd be more concerned about them than the vehicles. Vehicles can be replaced, but you can't replace someone's life. The guy that hit you should have to pay for your vehicle. You said the guy had full coverage, so are they going to pay for your vehicle? I mean he hit you. I don't think your insurance should pay for his car seeing as how the accident was his fault.. Hope you and your uncle feel better! :

 

I've only got liability insurance on my car until the spring.. Kind of makes me afraid to take it out of the garage :anxious:

 

 

 

My insurance agent said our insurance policies will pay for eachothers cars...It almost makes insurance seem pointless. YOU don't get anything, but the other person does! :lol:

 

 

 

I had Liability, meaning that if I was in an accident, the other guys stuff would be paid for, but not mine. I'm assuming, due to that guys age, that he had full coverage. That should pay for mine also, my agent said. If he had liability like I did, it would obviously also pay for mine.

 

 

 

I'm hoping that it gets paid for, if it don't, I may be forced to play "mean-guy". I don't want to sue anyone, especially an older guy, but I'll have no choice...My family isn't rich...We get by, but we can't afford to buy another car. I certainly can't myself, either, and I wouldn't feel right making my parents do it for me even if they could...I need a car though, so...If push comes to shove, as they say. My agent said in cases of un-signed roads, they go by who was at fault to pay for it, and the other guy was obviously at fault. He was on the right-side of his street, and he hit the front of my car...That means I was 3/4 the way through the intersection before he hit me. I even out-did my agent on this one...He assumed since the damage was to the front-mid side of my car, that I was 1/3 the way through, but I pointed out that since he was on the right side of the road, it actually makes him further over in the intersection, thus I was 3/4 the way through.

 

 

 

The passenger side of my car was actually briefly lifted off the ground, I believe. I'm not 100% sure about that claim, but I remember seeing the sky through the passenger window when I looked over to see why my uncle said "whoa dude s**t!" I had saw the car and assumed it was going to stop at the stop sign there, but as it turns out, he didn't have one and either did I. He was also further back from the intersection than I was, so yea. He flat-out, undisputably hit me. :P

 

 

 

Also, he walked his son home. His son was old enough to walk himself...My mom and I have been wondering if the son was drunk, or was actually driving the car without a license...Since we're not 100% sure who was driving, we just assumed it was the older guy. I mean...Technically, they both fled the scene of an accident, which is hit-and-run, but the older man came back. The younger man did not...The officer KNEW this (the guy told him) and he said nothing. At the time, I didn't think anything of it, but after I left, I was like..WOW...That was ILLEGAL. :P

 

 

 

Just hope for me that my stuff gets paid for. I always wanted to fix my Mercury Cougar and the money would be awesome. If it does get paid for, though...It won't be a great victory...I'll still get my insurance upped because some guy hit me. Unfair world.

[Mementh]

sorry to hear abotu that man..

 

 

 

honestly i belive that his insurance should pay for your new car only and not him..

 

 

 

Also IMHO you should not get a increase because your not at fault.. if it was your fault then you should get a higher rate.. (i mean its like the fact that if you get slapped by a girl when you ask her out that there is a huge risk of more slapping you (just because one did)

 

 

 

argh... I HATE INSURANCE COMPANIES

[Tigra00]

I agree, his rate should go up, but not mine. The saddest part here is that I am such a careful driver, and I'm a responsible person considering my age, yet it'll still get jacked up, and for my whole family, not just myself. I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs, and ever have. I don't party, at all. I don't speed, race, etc. I'm very careful because I don't want to pay out the [wagon] for insurance, but look where that got me!

 

 

 

*Sigh*...

 

 

 

Off to write my police report fully. Gotta' turn it in before 10 days or they take my license or something. :-s Yea, that'd be a great cherry on the messed-up sundae.

[Nadril]

Sucks to hear that.

 

 

 

The good new's is you do have evidence that it was his fault and neither you or your uncle got serriously hurt. It would have been much harder to prove had you been in the middle of the intersection.

 

 

 

Good luck with the report :wink:

[____]

Yea, I got into a single-vehicle accident back in July, and my insurance with RACQ would've been $750 PLUS another $400 age-excess if I had another accident. So from once accident, I ended up being [wagon]-raped almost 200% increase - and what's more shocking, is that I know people who have written off MULTIPLE VEHICLES and got no increase (same insurer) - seriously WHAT THE HELL? :uhh:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't blame you for being pissed off. His insurance should've paid for everything and your premium should've remained the same. Challenge your insuruer about the increase - and if they say no, find someone who wont increase your rate because of an accident that wasn't your fault. That's what I did. It's still higher than before, but it's not close to 1,200 :uhh:

[Kiriyama]

Next time something like this happens, get out the car and throw something at his car.

[bad_bobby]

havnt realy read the topic so i may be off-topic but yeah.

 

 

 

when i first got my BMW (Thats rite i got a blacked out e36 with 2k worth of sounds in it rollin on 18s \ ) i was a menace on the roads, i was drifting almost every corner and was always breaking the speed limit. In 100km/h areas it wasnt uncommon for me to be sitting on 160.

 

that all changed when one day i was flying down a huge strait in the middle of nowhere with the car off the clock, 200km/h+ (over 124miles) and i passed a mufti cop coming in the other direction. He turned around and put his lights on i thort aw gawd thats almost jail time for that speed :shame: . So i floored it cops cant persue at over 180 and i had a huge head start so i got away, i put my car in the garage and didnt drive it for like a month.

 

now days i hardly ever speed im nowhere near as bad as i was and i never go over 140 (caught doing anything over that and its loss of liscence).

 

 

 

and i love my car and its not worth risking it, myself, passengers or other people on the road for the sake of speeding.

 

 

 

as for the insurance thing, my dad is the director of an insurance company so i dont have any problems there.

 

 

 

im gonna post a pic of my BMW if i can find 1 just to show off :)

 

 

 

edit:

 

this is my car when i first got it, i have since got sum 18 inch advanti stilleto rimz, paint touchups, over 2grand worth of sounds mostly blaupunkt and (illegaly) tintd windows :-$

 

still working on angel eyes + aftermarket tailz

 

[darkmage099]

I actually read that whole thing.

 

 

 

Sounds pretty bad. That's all I can say.

[ExcelBlue]

Take him to court, he obviously ran into you. That's what I would do :| .

[Uldric]

When I learnt to drive I was taught that if there was no stop/give way sign or whatever, you give way to your right, although it might be different where you live.

 

 

 

Some moron reveresed into my car (ford falcon) at a shopping centre car park, didn't leave his details, which pissed me off alot. Not as bad as a full on accident I suppose. You better go to the doctors just in case. :)

[bacab]

That's seriously messed up.

 

 

 

If that happened to me I'd sue the [bleep]er in a heartbeat. No ifs, ands, or buts. Straight to court.

 

 

 

And from what I've read of what you said he obviously wasn't driving, the kid probably was. Either that or he and the kid were having some sort of argument. How old was the son?

 

 

 

That cop needs to be fired though. Doesn't matter how late at night it happened, he still should have done his job properly. He shouldn't have ignored the fact that the son fled the scene of the accident, that's something he should investigate more.

[frizoid]

I agree, his rate should go up, but not mine. The saddest part here is that I am such a careful driver, and I'm a responsible person considering my age, yet it'll still get jacked up, and for my whole family, not just myself. I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs, and ever have. I don't party, at all. I don't speed, race, etc. I'm very careful because I don't want to pay out the wagon for insurance, but look where that got me!

 

 

 

*Sigh*...

 

 

 

Off to write my police report fully. Gotta' turn it in before 10 days or they take my license or something. :-s Yea, that'd be a great cherry on the messed-up sundae.

 

 

 

Right before impact, my uncle said "Whoa dude s**t!" and then we were hit from the side. I immediately knew what happened and was startled by it, but I wasn't really scared. I've been in an accident before (with myself, lol yay for ice and bald tires, going into ditches ftl)

 

 

 

Riding around on bald tyres, especially when there is ice on the road, does not make you a careful driver. When you are critising other peoples driving its not such a good idea to post something that shows blatent disregard for yours and other peoples safety as well.

 

 

 

The police take pictures of the cars and the accident scenes and use that as well as statements to assess what actually happened, the insurance companies will go from there.

[Tigra00]

I agree, his rate should go up, but not mine. The saddest part here is that I am such a careful driver, and I'm a responsible person considering my age, yet it'll still get jacked up, and for my whole family, not just myself. I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs, and ever have. I don't party, at all. I don't speed, race, etc. I'm very careful because I don't want to pay out the wagon for insurance, but look where that got me!

 

 

 

*Sigh*...

 

 

 

Off to write my police report fully. Gotta' turn it in before 10 days or they take my license or something. :-s Yea, that'd be a great cherry on the messed-up sundae.

 

 

 

Right before impact, my uncle said "Whoa dude s**t!" and then we were hit from the side. I immediately knew what happened and was startled by it, but I wasn't really scared. I've been in an accident before (with myself, lol yay for ice and bald tires, going into ditches ftl)

 

 

 

Riding around on bald tyres, especially when there is ice on the road, does not make you a careful driver. When you are critising other peoples driving its not such a good idea to post something that shows blatent disregard for yours and other peoples safety as well.

 

 

 

You speak as if you know anything. Don't.

 

 

 

My tires weren't "bald", they just weren't up to Minnesota-Winter-With-Freezing-Rain standards. They had tread on them and they obviously weren't totally bald because they were on the car for the 5 years it was sitting in the garage not being driven. I was 16 at the time...Even if they WERE bald, I would have had no idea. What I mean is that I'm always very cautious while driving...I always wait if I think a car is too close (I often have people sitting with me saying "Go! You can go! Quick!" but I wait to be careful, lol) always signal, I even let people go before me just to be nice...This guy should have yeilded to me because he was on a side street and I was on a main road. Yes, he was to my right, but if I'm on the main road and he's on a side-street...GG, I have the right of way.

 

 

 

Like I said, the look on the guys face was that of guilt. I believe he KNOWS he hit me and it was his fault, though he never actually SAID that.

 

 

 

My agent said today that if it's 50-50 as for who was at fault, I get nothing, but if its 49-51 in my favour, I get 65% of blue book...We're guessing the blue book on my car as like $3,000, so I get like $1800. Not even enough to buy a new car, let alone pay the higher rates.

 

 

 

Switching insurances probably won't be an option, by dad is friend's with our agent, but at the same time, I doubt that'll help me. My agent knows that I'm careful but it isn't his choice, if the company says to raise it, he has to. That's the worst part of it, is that my whole family has to pay more money for insurance because some guy hit ME.

 

 

 

Here's a little picture I made so people can get a visual.

 

[Viktorkrum77]

I hear you. On our way home from school, me and my friend were in the car, and my mom was driving. We got T-boned too. I saw the car comming right as it hit, and it rammed our sububan on the drivers side. Luckily no one was hurt. But the people were ''ghetto', not driving with a license, and they hit and run.

 

 

 

#-o

[runesmithie]

I agree, his rate should go up, but not mine. The saddest part here is that I am such a careful driver, and I'm a responsible person considering my age, yet it'll still get jacked up, and for my whole family, not just myself. I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs, and ever have. I don't party, at all. I don't speed, race, etc. I'm very careful because I don't want to pay out the wagon for insurance, but look where that got me!

 

 

 

*Sigh*...

 

 

 

Off to write my police report fully. Gotta' turn it in before 10 days or they take my license or something. :-s Yea, that'd be a great cherry on the messed-up sundae.

 

 

 

Right before impact, my uncle said "Whoa dude s**t!" and then we were hit from the side. I immediately knew what happened and was startled by it, but I wasn't really scared. I've been in an accident before (with myself, lol yay for ice and bald tires, going into ditches ftl)

 

 

 

Riding around on bald tyres, especially when there is ice on the road, does not make you a careful driver. When you are critising other peoples driving its not such a good idea to post something that shows blatent disregard for yours and other peoples safety as well.

 

 

 

You speak as if you know anything. Don't.

 

 

 

My tires weren't "bald", they just weren't up to Minnesota-Winter-With-Freezing-Rain standards. They had tread on them and they obviously weren't totally bald because they were on the car for the 5 years it was sitting in the garage not being driven. I was 16 at the time...Even if they WERE bald, I would have had no idea. What I mean is that I'm always very cautious while driving...I always wait if I think a car is too close (I often have people sitting with me saying "Go! You can go! Quick!" but I wait to be careful, lol) always signal, I even let people go before me just to be nice...This guy should have yeilded to me because he was on a side street and I was on a main road. Yes, he was to my right, but if I'm on the main road and he's on a side-street...GG, I have the right of way.

 

 

 

Like I said, the look on the guys face was that of guilt. I believe he KNOWS he hit me and it was his fault, though he never actually SAID that.

 

 

 

My agent said today that if it's 50-50 as for who was at fault, I get nothing, but if its 49-51 in my favour, I get 65% of blue book...We're guessing the blue book on my car as like $3,000, so I get like $1800. Not even enough to buy a new car, let alone pay the higher rates.

 

 

 

Switching insurances probably won't be an option, by dad is friend's with our agent, but at the same time, I doubt that'll help me. My agent knows that I'm careful but it isn't his choice, if the company says to raise it, he has to. That's the worst part of it, is that my whole family has to pay more money for insurance because some guy hit ME.

 

 

 

Here's a little picture I made so people can get a visual.

 

 

 

 

He was just acting on information you gave him... "(with myself, lol yay for ice and bald tires, going into ditches ftl)". It's moronic for criticizing people for not being psychic.

[Tigra00]

No, it's jsut 'cause there's always gotta' be someone who opens their mouth about something completely redundant. If I say I'm a careful driver, guess what? Don't even question it, because you don't know me or how I drive. Just because I said my tires were bald does not mean I was out on ice running race slicks, you know? I thought I just went in the ditch because it was icy, period. My dad said my tires were kind of getting bald though, so he blamed himself for it. *Shrug*

[caligula101]

I read it all, I was very scared throughout :ohnoes:

 

 

 

Ok not really, I just wanted to use that cool smilie! Sorry to hear about your car anyway and sounds like you were in the right, then again I only heard your half of the story :wink:. Hope you're ok.

[74gto]

I just read this whole thing and my reaction was wow, then what a jerk, then rage. i believe that man is very disrespectful to you. You have very good patience and dicipline to just walk away and not fip ut on the guy, like i would if that happened to me. I am really sad that your car is totaled, how about looking for a cheaper motorcycle? Not fast bling bling, but soemthing that can take you from point a to b.

[malo2]

Pretty sad how irresponsible some people can be, at that age. I imagine that guy must have been like 4 times older than you, if he dosent have insurance to pay for you, like you paid for him, that will be pretty pathetic. A young guys insurance paying for an old mans damage and him doing nothing in return.

[knives669]

That really really sucks. The part that made me mad was the fact that the guy who hit you didn't even ask you if you were alright, or even apologize. Don't even get me started on the guy who was complaining about his lawn. It's not like it was your fault. People these days really need to learn some kindness instead of constanty worrying about themselves.

 

 

 

I know you don't want to, but if you don't get any recompensation, I'd take him to court.

[Tigra00]

Trust me, I don't want to take him to court, but I will be forced to if I'm not compensated somewhat. The thing that sucks is that dude will get a BRAND NEW car...I will get $1800 if I'm lucky. If I hit him, this would be completely fair, but man...He hit me and I'm being punished for it. I almost wish I was injured more than I was so I could sue him just so I could pay for a damn car. I could also sue the city for not having a sign at that intersection, but whatever.

 

 

 

I'm not going to be the "Typical American" and sue everyone just because something bad happened...Even though I probably would be justified more than most, like Mr. "McDonalds hot coffee burned my mouth, gimme' a million.", lol.

 

 

 

I just want the money to get a car. $1800 would get me a pile of crap that doesn't run, at best. I mean my car was old (1995 intrepid) but it was really nice because it wasn't being driven for 5-6 years of it's life. Any car around my car's price range would be a worthless dump. A motorcycle isn't even an option considering that I live in Minnesota...It'd only be driveable like 4 months of the year. :lol: